International Leaders React to Attacks

Announcing the attacks on a nationwide address today, President Bush said strikes by the U.S. and its allies against targets in Afghanistan are “supported by the collective will of the world.”

He said that Canada, Australia, Germany and France had pledged to commit their forces.

Those leaders moved quickly to express their support in speeches or in statements.

Iran, however, was one of the few countries to join the Taliban to say the strikes were “unacceptable” and would hurt innocent Afghan civilians.

“I express my concern about this vast operation in Afghanistan and this attack which would result in the loss of life among civilians,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said.

Elsewhere, support appeared widespread.

Consistent with their previous assertions, British military forces have been participating in today’s attacks.

British submarines took part in the first wave of strike, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said, adding their warplanes will join in the attack in the next few days.

In an address to his country, Blair said the attacks “targeted against places we know to be involved in the al-Qaida network of terror or against the military apparatus of the Taliban.

“As to the precise British involvement, I can confirm that last Wednesday the United States government made a specific request that a number of UK military assets be used in the operation which has now begun, and I gave authority for these assets to be deployed,” he added.

The head of the European Union’s executive body said the commission stands firm in it’s support of action taken against Afghanistan.

“At this difficult, solemn and dramatic moment, all Europe stands steadfast with the United States and its coalition allies to pursue the fight against terrorism,” European Commission President Romano Prodi said in a statement Sunday.

Prodi said the union is already mobilizing humanitarian aid for the region.

“We are united, and will remain united, in this struggle against those who attack the very foundations of civilization,” Prodi said.

In France, President Jacques Chirac pledged that French troops will participate in any military offensive. The pledge is the first time the French leader has made an offer of such direct support.

Last week, France agreed to open its airspace and provide logistical support to naval groups in the Indian Ocean.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder emphasized “Germany’s unlimited solidarity with the United States,” and said his government has given “unreserved backing” to the United States against “terrorist targets”‘ in Afghanistan.

As a country subjected to frequent terrorist attacks, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres called the U.S. attack a “brave decision” by President George W. Bush.

Russia also quickly expressed their support of the attacks, saying the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has become an “international center of terrorism and extremism” and a safe haven for “terrorists.”

“It is time for decisive action with this evil,” a Russian Foreign Ministry statement said. “Terrorists wherever they are — in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Middle East or the Balkans — should know that they will be taken to justice.”

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also announced solidarity for the U.S.-British action, ordering tightened security around the country. “Japan strongly supports the action taken by the United States and Britain,” he said early Monday morning.

Japan is not an expected target of retaliations due to their close ties to Arab nations, but it does serve as a base for half of U.S. military forces in Asia.

The Japanese cabinet endorsed a controversial bill on Friday allowing the military to give non-combat, logistical support for U.S. military action. Some believe the bill goes too far in allowing Japan to be involved in military action — something it renounced after World War Two.